Berlin, Germany, September 14, 2013 – In front of 8,500 electrified
fans in the sold out Max-Schmeling-Halle in Berlin, 2006 and 2010 world champions Russia,
secured their 18th gold medal in European Volleyball, defeating hosts Germany 3-1
(25-23, 23-25, 25-23, 25-14) in the final of the 2013 CEV Volleyball European Championship -
Women.

Russia’s Most Valuable Player Tatiana Kosheleva (19 points)
and opposite Nataliya Obmochaeva (28 points) were the main protagonists of
Saturday’s gold medal clash.

World No. 6 Russia
jumped out for a 4-0 lead at the start of the much-awaited gold medal
match of the CEV European Championship. German captain Margareta Kozuch opened
the score for the hosts with a hammer from the right side. Both teams quickly
put a lot of pressure on the opponent’s passers. Russia kept the upper hand
until the second technical time, but could not pull through. Two German block
kills drew level at 17-17. There was not much to separate the two teams at the
start of tonight’s deciding duel of EuroVolley 2013, co-organized by the German
and Swiss Volleyball Federation. Russia had some advantages in blocking (6-3)
while Germany served much better. Kosheleva found a gap in Germany’s defence to
make it 22-20 for Russia. The hosts did their best but could not prevent the
East Europeans from seizing their second set point at 25-23. Nataliya
Obmochaeva was the outstanding player in the first set, scoring ten times for
Russia.

The balance of power
changed in the beginning of the second set. The courageous German ladies took
more risk, provoking several Russian mistakes. Viktoria Chaplina served three
missiles in a row, but could not close the gap to more than four points at the
second technical timeout. Saskia Hippe stopped Kosheleva at the net to move the
scoreboard forward for Germany (18-13). Kosheleva and Obmochaeva responded with
two blistering winners to reduce the German advantage to three points at 16-19.
However, it was not good enough. Heike Beier led her teammates to a
well-deserved 25-23 set win. Russia still struggled with poor passing (25%
positive passing).

Russia regained momentum in the middle
of the third set. At the second technical break, the team of head coach Yuriy
Marichev had earned a two-point advantage. Nevertheless, the brave Germans
bounced back with Hippe on fire (20-20). The set balanced on a knife’s edge
now, with both teams alternating spectacular offensive combinations with
impenetrably defense work. However, Russia kept the upper during ‘money time’.
At their first set ball, Russia’s 178cm-tall setter Ekaterina Pankova stopped
Beier with a remarkable block winner to offer her team a hard-earned 2-1 set
lead. With her eight winners, Obmochaeva was again the driving force for the
World No. 6.

Russia again kept
control of the match early in the fourth set. The Germans could not find an
answer to the powerful Russian game. Giovanni Guidetti sent in Jennifer
Geerties for Maren Brinker, but could not end Russia’s rush to a six-point lead
at the second technical break. The Russian express seemed unstoppable. Obmochaeva
hammered for a 20-13 lead before Kosheleva added another winner to her
remarkable record book. At 24-14, Most Valuable Player awarded Tatiana
Kosheleva brought up match point. One rally later, Nataliya Obmochaeva ended it
in Russia’s favour, bouncing the new European champions in heaven.

Russia captain Ekaterina Pankova: “Germany served very well. It was not easy to
organize our offense. However, we proved our strength by strong teamwork and
good preparation. Thanks to the organizers and fans; we felt very comfortable
here.”

Germany captain
Margareta Kozuch: “Congratulations to Russia. They played very well tonight. We
needed a lot of energy to stay in the game. It already started with a
hard-fought first set. The Russian offence played just brilliant. We tried to
push a lot of pressure on their passers. It was not good enough. Anyway, I am
very proud to be part of such an amazing team. We had the chance to show our
beautiful sport to a huge audience.”

Russia coach Yuriy
Marichev: “It was definitely our toughest game today.
Germany served very well. I told my players to focus on our strength at the
net. It helped. I am very happy.”

Germany coach
Giovanni Guidetti: “Russia was the outstanding team at EuroVolley
2013. They beat Serbia and Turkey in straight sets. The gap between the Russian
and our offence was too big tonight. Furthermore, Russia had 18 block kills. We
only had nine. However, I am very proud of my players and my staff. We reached
three times in a row the semifinals at the European Championships, two times in a
row the gold medal match. We can be gratified for such an achievement. Thanks
you Berlin, thank your Germany.”

Russia as the winner
of the 2013 CEV Volleyball European Championship – Women have qualified for the
2013 FIVB Volleyball World Grand Champions Cup featuring a total of six teams
per gender with the hosts Japan being joined by the continental winners from
Asia, Europe, NORCECA and South America with an additional country selected by
the FIVB.

With Germany and
Russia, the two best-ranked teams of the 2013 CEV Volleyball European
Championship – Women as well as organizer Italy have qualified for the 2014
FIVB Volleyball World Championship.

The five best-ranked teams of the 2013 CEV
Volleyball European Championship – Women as well as the organizers from Belgium
and the Netherlands have qualified for the 2015 CEV Volleyball European
Championship – Women.